USCIS Announces Revisions to Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File for Adjustment of Status

On 9/9/2015, the USCIS announced revised procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status. The revisions implement a key initiative part of the administrative action on immigration announced by President Obama and the Secretary of Homeland Security in November 2014 and intended to alleviate some of the hardships of lengthy immigrant visa backlogs. The new procedures, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State(DOS), are also intended to enhance the DOS’s ability to more accurately predict overall immigrant visa demand and determine cut-off date for visa issuance published in the DOS Visa Bulletin.

The revised format for the October 2015 Visa Bulletin will include tow charts per visa preference category:

Application Final Action Dates (dates when visas may finally be issued), and

Dates for Filing Applications (earliest dates when applicant may apply).

Each month, in coordination with the DOS, the USCIS will monitor visa numbers and post the relevant DOS Visa Bulletin chart. Applicants can use the charts to determine when to filed their form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.